A Full-time Life

THROUGH A FRAME

 

Joining Sunday Stills for the first time.  This week, the challenge is "to find an opening (a window, knothole, fence…) and use it to frame something on the other side."     (I am using photos from our FullTime-Life archives just this once.  From now on, I will try to meet this weekly theme challenge with new pictures!) 

This challenge immediately made me think of the Chinese Garden in Portland Oregon.  This meditative space is an area of beauty and serenity in the middle of the City.  

In this other picture, you can see the high rise building just beyond the garden's boundaries.   

If I lived or worked in that building, I'd visit this garden every day!

Looking ...and walking ... through these gates help to establish a feeling of serenity  .... as if you've left the cares of the world on the other side.

 The picture below is from the Japanese Garden at House on the Rock, in Wisconsin.

We enjoyed the Garden more than we did the rest of that particular attraction.  

Here's a picture of one of the serene spaces beyound the gate.

DISMAL NITCH

FOR SIGNS SIGNS Thanks Lesley!

This cove along the Columbia River was the last campsite for Lewis and Clark expedition before they came to the Pacific Ocean. It's a rest-stop along the State Highway now.

It was a pleasant afternoon when we stopped today.

But when the Expedition stayed here right about this time in 1805 the weather wasn't so cooperative. These quotes from two members' journals probably explain the Dismal name. (Explanatory signs with quotes from journals were placed along the expedition route for its bicentennial in 2005.)

DR PIERCE'S PLEASANT PELLETS BARN

  LINKED TO SIGNS SIGNS  (thank you to Lesley for having this great idea and hosting) and to a new meme for me BARN CHARM.  (This post just seemed perfect to share with for barn lovers.)

     
 
In the early twentieth century, advertising on barns was a popular way to get your message out in front of the public.  The advertisers usually paid the farmer for the space by providing a coat of paint.  Dubious remedies were pretty popular back then too.

This sign is said to have been painted in 1903.  It stands within the present day city limits of Cottage Grove, Oregon, and is easily visible when driving through the city along Highway 99.  

Sadly, the barn is in serious disrepair and the current owner of the property wants to tear it down in order to make the home and property more saleable.      

The County Historical Society is interested in its preservation but has been unable to negotiate a price.   

Although a group of people are still trying to save it in some way, this icon of another time is slated to be demolished this month. 

  Here is an article about the barn.

EAT WITH YOUR EYES!

This post is linked to OUR WORLD.  Click on the links to see what's happening out there!

 

It's a perfect time to visit the Farmer's Market in downtown Eugene.  Summer tomatoes and peppers are still bountiful (for a little while longer) and the colorful and delicious Fall crops are coming on strong. 

 

It's hard to pick and choose -- but easy to eat locally and healthfully.   

 

SHADOWS FROM SCRAP

This post is linked to SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY hosted by Tracy at Hey Harriet.

 
More wild and wacky sculpture made from recycled materials.

(Recycle through this week's posts to see more.)

 

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE RETHINK

This reminder of the importance of taking care of our world is serendipitously ready to be linked to the wonderful OUR WORLD meme. 

 

Last week, we visited the BRING Recycling Facility in Eugene.  Here's the Website for this non-profit facility.

Oregon has always been a  leader in the recycling movement (it was the first state to institute a bottle-return law) and recycling of household goods and building materials is a widely-accepted practice.  BRING recycling in Eugene is a leader in this effort.

BRING began 40 years ago as a household recycling center and expanded to building materials.  Back in our other life, when we owned a home in nearby Springfield, we used to take our recycling there and often bought materials for home remodeling projects.  Back then the facility was a dusty collection of bins for sorting glass, cans and newspaper.  The building materials were piled helter-skelter under makeshift roofs.

But a few years ago, well after we had sold our house and started our full-time RV adventures, BRING bought a large piece of land and built a clean and modern facility.  Although everything that's for sale has been recycled, the warehouse is as spiffy as any home improvement store with new goods for sale.

 Now Bring accepts and sells mostly building materials. 

Businesses and homeowners use the facility to recycle goods that otherwise would go into the wastestream. 

This was our first visit to the new facility -- and we just went to look.  Because unlike back in the 70s,  nowdays you don't have to make special trips with your  ordinary household recycling.   Most people get a weekly pickup at the same time as household garbage is collected.

                                                                                 Even though he didn't need anything, Bill enjoyed browsing around the sales warehouse, receiving areas and work areas.  So did I, but what I enjoyed most was that the new facility has a pretty garden with recycled-art installations. 

I'll post some more garden-art pictures later. 

  

 
 

BRIDGE IN BLACK AND WHITE

FOR WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE and SUNDAY BRIDGES

 

This is another view of the bridge over the Siuslaw River in Florence (Oregon) that I posted about last week.  Here's a link. 

And a close-up view of one of the Art Deco-style obelisks.  

Although we've crossed this bridge hundreds of times, I didn't know anything about its history, so I went to Wikipedia.

I learned that the bridge was opened in 1936.  It was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works.

 The bridge is 1,568 feet long.  The bascule (lift) section is flanked by two reinforced concrete arches.  Four Art-Deco-style obelisks house mechanical equipment and quarters for the bridge operator. 

 

   

BRIDGE OVER THE SIUSLAW, FLORENCE

FOR SUNDAY BRIDGES

 

We drove over to Florence earlier this month just to see if the Pacific Ocean was still there.  It was of course ... but somehow  I didn't come home with any pictures of it at all.   We drive across this bridge every time we go to Florence or South along the Coast.  The flowers below were at my feet when I took the above picture.

 

 Next time we drive over to the ocean, I'll take some pictures of it as well!

 

BICYCLE RACK

For SKYWATCH FRIDAY...This view of the sky over the bike park at the Country Fair.  There really weren't very many bright blue days in this part of Oregon last month, so the Fair was fortunate to have such a lovely weekend.

 

 

SWEET CREEK FALLS (the water)

 FOR WATERY WEDNESDAY.  Get your eyes wet.  Click on the links or add your own.

     

These pictures are from our walk at Sweet Creek -- when I could tear my camera away from the kids (previous post).

 
 

I can't resist two more of the family -- Our grandson Jacob had a day off and here he is with each of his nephews:

 

 

 

 

The trail goes along a series of waterfalls.  Jacob was the only one to make it to the top.    On this day, with these first-time hikers, seeing the lower ones (about three-quarters of the way up the trail) was quite enough adventure for the rest of us. While he ran the rest of the way up and back, the rest of us watched the boys wading in the lower pond.

SWEET CREEK, SWEET LIFE

This post is linked to THAT'S MY WORLD,  Click the linkes for a tour of our planet without leaving your computer.

Our great-grandsons are visiting this month -- really they are visiting their grandparents (who are pretty great too, in the other sense!).  But we get to spend some time with them too -- so how lucky is that!

We hiked up Sweet Creek Falls trail between here and the Coast.   

The little boys were fascinated by the creek, the big trees, and the series of waterfalls,  because they hadn't seen anything like that in South Carolina where they usually hang out with their parents.

Mom (our granddaughter) and Grandma (our daughter) helped the boys get ready to go wading in this quiet section at the bottom of the hike. 

They loved it -- especially for a couple of guys used to southern heat!  (It's been quite cool in Oregon so far this summer.  The weather front that has stalled the intense heat over much of the rest of the country seems to have stalled cool marine air here.)

  It''s a Sweet (Creek)  LIfe!

DIFFERENT WORLD, DIFFERENT FAIR

Linking to THAT'S MY WORLD .  Visit the links!

 

 The Oregon Country Fair is a different world from the one where we usually live, but it's fun to visit different ones sometimes.   In real time and real miles the Fairgrounds is located only 5 miles from where we are staying (and about 20 miles from where we used to own a home before beginning our traveling life.)   This was our first visit in quite a few years.   

 

The Fair site is over 300 acres located on a wetlands area on the Long Tom River.   Like a 1960s verson of Brigadoon, it has appeared for 42 years on the third weekend of July.    The OCF now owns the property, but because it is on a wetlands (and flood plain)  all structures -- stages and vendor's booths -- must be taken down and stored after the end of the Fair, leaving the property as if nobody had ever occupied it.

 

Parades are spontaneous (at least to the casual visitor)...they seem to spring up without notice.  

  

 Although its origins were different, the Fair is billed now as a family event -- there's no alcohol, smoking only in designated areas, and a large playground area.  Tolerance and environmental awareness are still encouraged.

 

Many of those attending wear costumes and they still verge toward the bizarreness that was more rampant when the Fair started.  There was more "smoke" and less clothing in the old days. 

For us, people watching is the main attraction.  But there are 300 booths including original  craftwork, music and spoken word venues.  Food booths are plentiful and much better than typical fair cuisine (it's actually hard to choose where to have lunch).      

Here's a link to the Fair's website.

   http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/

GUARDING THE RIVER

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS on the banks of the Long Tom River the weekend of the Oregon Country Fair.   Visit the links on James' site for beautiful reflections from everywhere.

 

  

 

  It was perfect weather.  Not too hot, but sunny. 

In this picture, a representation of She Who Watches keeps an eye on the river bank. 

(The original of this petroglyph guards the Columbia River.  The link will take you to one version of her legend.)

 

OUR CHRISTMAS CARD

  
 CHRISTMAS JOY shared with real friends and virtual ones through the blogging communities at  Mellow Yellow Monday,  Ruby Tuesday, That's My World, and Mid-Week Blues.

Below is our Christmas card with more Holiday lights from Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon Coast.

Turn on your sound and hit the slide show and full screen (left button) option.  Hit Escape and your close button to exit the slide show and return to this post. 

 Happy Holiday Season as we head this week for Florida sunshine and (we hope) warm weather. 

  

Customize your own slideshow

BLUE SKY THROUGH A BLACK WALNUT

SHARED WITH THE SKYWATCH FRIDAY COMMUNITY

 

Just hanging out at our daughter's one day this week, when the December sun decided to pay a rare visit to this part of Oregon.   The beautiful tree is a very old and very healthy Black Walnut.  It's home -- or a feeding station -- for many varieties of birds and squirrels.   It provides wonderful shade in the summer, but sheds tons of leaves in the Fall.  They keep falling even after the rainy season starts and they can't be composted.   So the tree takes a lot of care.

 We are fortunate to enjoy the beauty while Cyndi and Jeff do all the work! 

 

BIRDING ON THE LAKE

A GLIMPSE OF WHERE WE'RE STAYING RIGHT NOW FOR THAT'S MY WORLD ON  TUESDAY 

AND WATERY WEDNESDAY (click the links to see watery posts from around the world (most of them with more water than we have right now!)

There's not much water left on our (no)Lake, but the shore birds love it. Easy pickings!  This was the afternoon view from our window most days last week -- the water has gone down since then and the egrets have moved on to a slightly deeper spot.

 

Whenever the sun comes out, even briefly, the perching birds come out to eat and play before the next shower.

  

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We like to go outside between the showers too!  Being able to do that is one of the joys of our leisurely life.  Those sunny periods never seemed to happen during regular working hours.     

COLOR SPOTS AT FERN RIDGE (no)-LAKE SHORES

 Go see Mellow Yellow Monday to see what sunshine colors people from all over are spotting this week.

There's not a whole lot of color left around Fern Ridge Shores.  Yellow flowers seem to be hanging on longer than anything else this Fall.

We are grateful for any and all November color spots.

 

BEAUTIFUL NOVEMBER!

An unexpectedly beautiful November day in Oregon this week - - click on the Skywatch links to see skies from around the world.   SKYWATCH FRIDAY

 

 

After over a week of rain and fog, it seemed miraculous to wake up Wednesday to a blue and gold summer-like day.   This is Fern Ridge Lake -- now disappearing as it does every Winter.  (Click here to read what I posted about the "no-lake" when we were here last year.)

 

And this is Oregon -- just when it is so gray you are ready to give up all hope, you get blue and gold-- and even a colorful woodpecker up in the top of this abandoned apple tree.

 

 

It will certainly rain again while we're here -- but there is always the hope of another day like this in between the days of needed rain.   

PINK REFLECTION

This post is linked at WEEKEND REFLECTIONS hosted by James.  Reflect as you click on the links!

 

 Pink reflections on the Lake.  Just before sunset last week (before it started to rain).

 

 

BLAZE OF GLORY

THANK YOU TO TO THE HOSTS OF SKYWATCH FRIDAY WHERE, BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS, YOU CAN ADMIRE SKIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

 

 

Sunrise over the Lake one week ago today.  It was the sun giving us it's last blaze of glory before it went away for the Winter.  That afternoon, it started to rain and our morning view since then has been gray (fog or rain). 

Today, the rain is a reminder of why we started traveling during the Oregon winters. 

But when we look at this picture, we remember why we love it here. (But also why we need to visit earlier in the Fall!)

SUNSET, SUNRISE

THIS POST IS LINKED TO SKYWATCH FRIDAY.  CLICK ON THE LINKS! 

SUNSET -- LAST SUNDAY NIGHT, UPRIVER RV RESORT, FORT MYERS FLORIDA

 

 

 

 

 

SUNRISE -- THE NEXT MORNING, FERN RIDGE LAKE, VENETA OREGON 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took us a little longer last time we made this trip.  Notice the jet trails in the sky over the Lake.  

TIE-DYED EUGENE

Eugene is the big City near where we stay when we visit in Oregon (and near where we used to live).  It can be a real throw-back to the '60s at times.  These are some pictures from the Holiday Market last December.  They seemed perfect for MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY and for RUBY TUESDAY too. They'd be even mellower if the patchouli -- and other -- scents could be transmitted. 

These fair-goers are looking at "fresh picked rainbows".  The only trouble is that to get the full effect, you'd have to buy the whole display.  But they are fun to look at.

The guy below and his parrot both seemed to be enjoying themselves.

SEA LION CAVES

WATERY WEDNESDAY for more water views. 

We had some out-of-town company the last weekend we were at Fern Ridge Shores.  They were headed to the Washington Coast, so we decided that we'd drive to Florence (about 40 miles west of FRS) Saturday and spend the day with them on the Oregon  Coast.  Of course, it poured down rain the entire time they were here.  Typical for Oregon -- just when you'd like to show it off, it does nothing but rain.  Since it was too wet to walk on the beach, we decided to tour the Sea Lion Caves -- just 11 miles North of Florence

Sea Lion Caves, said to be the world's largest sea cave, has been a privately owned attraction on the Oregon Coast for over 60 years. We haven't been there for many many years, because it's really one of those spots that, when you live nearby, becomes just another tourist trap.  On our many trips to the Coast, we learned where to find sea lions by ourselves without paying an admission price.  But it is a fun place to take guests who haven't seen sea lions in natural habitat.  The Caves were busy   -- there were about 500 of the creatures there that day.    Apparently the ones who used to hang out at the San  Francisco piers have migrated up the coast from California, so they are there in addition to the ones that always have lived in Oregon.  Nobody seemed to know why they left California.  There were a lot of jokes about it though.

You need sound and smell to get the full effect of these caves.  Bill said they smell "like a bad fishmarket."  And with this many of them, the roars in the cave were loud!  But we had fun looking and at least it wasn't raining inside the caves. 

And we had a great excuse to visit the beautiful Oregon Coast one more time before our roadtrip.

Here is the link to Sea Lion Cave's official webpage:Click here

There is a pretty good view of Cape Perpetua Lighthouse from the viewpoint at the top of the elevator to the Cave, even though it was overcast and raining on and off.

SKY DREAMING

 
 What if you fell UP through a hole in the sky?

 

 

 
 

Two different February afternoons

Fern Ridge Shores 2010

SKYWATCH FRIDAY  for many beautiful skies.  Thank you to the hosts of this great meme.

SUNRISE, SUNSET

 

 
FERN RIDGE SHORES  -- earlier this season

AND FOR MORE SKY PICTURES CLICK RIGHT HERE AND GO TO MR LINKY SKYWATCH FRIDAY

A HUNT FOR RED - JANUARY

 

We've had some nice mid-winter days here at the Shores, but reds are still pretty scarce.

This post is the result of a recent morning's  photo safari around our immediate neighborhood.   

Most of the reds I found were very much on the subtle side of the spectrum.   

But there are signs of Spring to come.

At this time of year, we take any bright color we can find and we are grateful that it isn't covered with snow and ice.

 

HAPPY RUBY TUESDAY FROM FERN RIDGE SHORES. 

Thank you to Mary at Ruby Tuesday meme for hosting this meme -- click on the link to look at more cheerful reds.  

 

THREE SISTERS

  
This is the view that greeted us when we opened our curtains one morning last week.  Our view on the (no)Lake here changes every day this time of year, so we never know exactly what we'll see.  This view was the biggest surprise we've had yet! 

We don't often see these Central Oregon peaks from here, even in the middle of the summer.  Although it wasn't as blue as it has been on a few other days lately, the spectacular view made it a perfect morning for sky watching.    The Three Sisters peaks are near the town of Sisters, Oregon (on the way to Bend, the largest City in central Oregon).  It is about 60 miles east, as the crow flies, from where we are.  

 

SKYWATCH FRIDAY :  CLICK FOR PICTURES OF SKIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JANUARY MORNING 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

FROM our yard (and out of the window) at Fern Ridge Shores this week.  The weather has been good to us.

  

   

 

   

 
 

WATERY WEDNESDAY  (sort of) (CLICK FOR MORE WATERY PICTURES, some more watery than others)

 

JANUARY DAY

One January day at Fern Ridge Shores (here in Oregon's rainy Willamette Valley), the sun peeked through and the skies were blue.

 

But that was earlier this month and it was only for that one day!

CLICK HERE FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY

CHINESE GARDEN

Today I have pictures featuring off-shades of red.  VISIT RUBY TUESDAY  to see more photographs featuring real reds!

Pictures from the Chinese Garden in downtown Portland, Oregon taken last Summer.  This lovely garden spot is right in the center of downtown.  People who work or live in the City must  appreciate having this place nearby for a break from the stress and hustle and bustle.  

We enjoy visiting big cities and certainly weren't under any stress, but we loved the Garden's quiet beauty and were glad we toured it.

 

DECEMBER SKIES

 
Even though our recent  SKYWATCH FRIDAY  posts have been from other trips, we do still have skies to look at here at Fern Ridge Shores.  They're not the same Winter skies we thought we'd be looking at this month, but it is beautiful here in its own way -- and there's more than a glimmering of blue skies  -- now and ahead of us.    

    

          

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR CURRENT WINDOW ON THE WORLD!

 

(As always, click that blue link above to visit beautiful skies all around the world.  And click on any picture to enlarge.)

LIFE OF THE PARTY?? maybe not

    
The Oregon Lottery Commission has been running this huge ad campaign --  billboards every two yards it seems like  -- suggesting that gifts of scratch-off lottery tickets will make you the life of the party.

Am I the only one who thinks that a party where getting a scratch-off was the highlight of the evening would be the saddest Holiday get-together there ever was? 

I'll admit to not being a gambler at all, so maybe there's something I don't understand.  When I stop at the convenience store for milk and everybody else is buying a scratch-off ticket with their change, I'd rather buy the two- for-a-buck fake chocolate truffles off the counter display.  At least I have something to show for my money.  Even if it's just the extra inches on my hips.

 

(The pictures are from the OLC's webpage.)

 

 

WINTER SOLSTICE IN OREGON

The first day of Winter  -- not a season in the Tropics this year and not exactly where we'd planned to be, but, really, Winter in Oregon ain't that bad!

True, it can be gray and damp, but where we are the white stuff pretty much stays out there in the distance looking beautiful.  No shoveling involved.

Our home is warm and on really rainy chilly days we have our own fireplace to curl up by -- or the welcoming rooms of family and friends to visit. 

Over-the-top Christmas lights are more fun in wet gray weather -- they seen kind of superfluous in warmer, tropical climates.  Here they feel just right!

Life is good no matter what State you're in.  Happy Winter Solstice.

CITY STREET SHOW

Street entertainers in downtown Portland, Oregon -- Saturday, December 5, 2009.  I'm not really sure if the guy on the right was part of the act or just a Portland character, but I loved his red outfit and the red highlights on the "marionettes."  

 

For more cheerful red pictures, click here: RUBY TUESDAY   (This is really a great season to enjoy this meme.  Thank you to Mary at Work of the Poet  for hosting it.)

 

REPORT FROM THE (no)LAKE *

* Click here to see seasonal pictures of Fern Ridge Lake 

In spite of the cold weather we've been having, the Canada geese here are not going anywhere this winter.   They fly over Fern Ridge Shores a couple of times a day, but their whole migration route seems to be from the water that is left in Fern Ridge Lake to these nearby fields -- and back again.  Perhaps they, like us, have some good reason for hanging around this year. 

This month it has been unseasonably cold for western Oregon, with temperatures in the low teens.  Of course it would have to happen this year, just to give us the full Oregon Experience.  It has been a long time since we've spent a winter here.  Our friends have been telling us for years that there is no reason we need to travel south because the weather has been mild here.  'Hmmm... and I always thought they were such trustworthy people!

We are staying quite warm and cozy.  Except that one of those extreme low temperature days happened last Sunday, the day we got back from our Portland trip.  We found our cozy little RV home not so cozy because we'd run out of propane while we were gone (having left the thermostat set on 40).  But nothing broke or leaked, so all was well -- although of course Bill had to go right back out to the propane store and I had to unpack wearing hat and gloves.  It really only took about an hour for the place to warm up.  Just long enough to make us appreciate warmth that we usually take for granted.

We have been just fine ever since then.  But I'm happy that the weather has warmed up a bit.  We're now back to more typical Oregon late Fall-early Winter weather -- gray and rainy, but temperatures in the mid-30s to upper 40s.  On those very cold days it was pretty hard to get motivated to do much of anything at all.    

 

 (I think that oddball goose in the front has wandered away from home to visit his wild cousins.)   

 

 

 

 

VIEWS FROM A DAM WALK

Views for Skywatch Friday taken from on top of Fern Ridge Dam, late November. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SKY SHOTS from all over the world.

This is the corner of Clear Lake and Alvadore Roads -- the corner where we turn to go to Cyndi and Jeff's home.  Still so beautiful in late Fall.  Below is just out onto the Lake, where you can hardly tell where the sky ends and the water begins.  There is a little bit more water on this side of the Lake than where we are.  But even on the Clear Lake side, the water is very shallow this time of year.

 

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY - PORTLAND AREA

Here's an extra showing of two pictures from our visit last week to Portland, especially for WATERY WEDNESDAY .  

Here is a link to the post telling more about these pictures and other outoor Portland places.  OUTDOOR PORTLAND - CLICK HERE

OUTDOOR PORTLAND

 Oregon's iconic Mt. Hood.  It's east of the City.  The wind felt like it was blowing straight off this beautiful snow! 

We took a little trip to the big city (Portland) last week.  About 100 miles from where we're staying, it is Oregon's biggest city.  We took full advantage of having our RoadTrek, which made it easy for us to move around.  We stayed in a different area of the City every one of our four nights and spent the days exploring around the part where we were. 

 
 
Float houses moored on the Willamette Slough. 

 
Sauvie Island, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, west of the City. 

Ocean-going vessels passed within yards of our window.  Here's another picture of a passing freighter -- you can see the corner of our RoadTrek Van right next to where I was standing.  Not as good a picture as the first one, but easy to see how close the channel is.

There isn't as much sea-going traffic as there used to be, because of the economy.  Sauvie Island is a farm community that is part of the Greater Portland area.  It was too late in the season to take advantage of the farm markets and too cold for many of the birds that we used to enjoy when we visited here.  But it was still a fascinating and different part of Portland -- a little bit of country within an urban area.

  

It was cold but dry the whole five days, so we were able to take some walks and get a lot of pictures.  We were happy to have our snug little van to jump back into after being outside though. 

 

These are pictures of a cold couple of evenings -- and one more of beautiful Mt. Hood. 

 

DECEMBER BERRY FIELD

We saw THIS field of dormant berry bushes along the roadside  somewhere near Portland, Oregon.  It was a beautiful early December day.  The next morning, the temperature dropped at least 20 degrees and there was no sun to be seen.  We were glad we stopped to snap a lot of pictures while it was still sunny.

 

CLICK THIS FOR MORE RUBY TUESDAY

PLAYING OUTSIDE

Can anyone of any age see these beautiful toadstools without wondering where the elves and brownies are hiding? 

 Personally, I am right back in my childhood listening to fairy tales and thinking maybe they were true after all. 

 

Here are a couple more pictures that bring back memories.  Both are from a Thanksgiving weekend Sunday walk around Fern Ridge Shores and Jeans Road.

Acorns crunch under our feet when we walk along the road.  I used to love to collect these and so did my kids and grandkids.  Actually I kind of still do.

I love watching the black and white sheep that seemed to be regarding the passing traffic.  There are still a few red apples hanging on -- the ones that are too high for the deer to reach.

THAT'S MY WORLD :  click there on the blue for photoblogs from everywhere 

ALVADORE AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER

Click SKYWATCH FRIDAY  for sky shots from all over the world.

These pictures were taken early this week from pretty much the same spot in Cyndi and Jeff's backyard -- over the course of about half an hour.   We had some absolutely beautiful sunny days at the beginning of the week. 

 

The sky changes quickly in mid-afternoon!

This last one is just before I dashed for cover as an afternoon storm rolled in.

It poured down rain all day yesterday (Thanksgiving) which was fine as we were all busy inside cooking and eating!

Today the sun is shining again and that's good for walking off the turkey and pumpkin pie.

This is Oregon in November!

 

TURKEY TIME

We see this flock of wild turkeys out on Jeans Road almost every time we go anywhere these days.

They don't pay any attention to cars and will cross the road anytime they want to do so, no matter what's coming. 

It doesn't look like they're a bit worried about the upcoming holiday.  Maybe they know that nowadays most people prefer to do their hunting at the supermarket down the road.

RED FOR REMEMBERING

Cheerful reminders of summer just past  -- from our daughter and son-in-law's garden at Alvadore.

 

 

Click here for more cheerful red pictures    RUBY TUESDAY

FERN RIDGE (NO)LAKE

This is the view we have out of our RV window right now.  Our Lake has been disappearing since the end of September, when the Army Corps of Engineers began draining Fern Ridge Lake (which is really a flood-control reservoir).  It's been interesting to watch the progress -- we're usually away from here by the time this annual project starts. 

  

The first picture above is Bill at the docks in mid-August.  Middle picture is mid-September; all of the boats had been taken out except for ones the size of this electronically controlled miniature.  Some hobbyists who live here in the park really enjoyed having the empty marina area to race their little boats around.  The last picture is early this month (November).  You could see the bottom -- and now, if you didn't mind muddy shoes, you could walk around without even getting your ankles damp.

 In the summer time, when our view looks like this, it's easy to forget that the Lake isn't completely natural.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It's still interestng to look at now, in a different -- and kind of eerie -- way.   There's been a different view every day since the Lake started to go down.  We see more shore birds now.  The shallow water -- and mud flats -- provide easy pickings for them. 

    

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Change is always interesting.  And this year, for the first time in quite a while, we are experiencing the seasonal changes of Fall without even going on a roadtrip.

Watery Wednesday

for more Scenic Sunday click here

HOME IMPROVEMENT

We led a far more stable life in the past, before we became full-time RVers. We owned two stick homes, one for nine years, one for over 30.   During those years, we went through a few home improvement projects.  (Actually, I can almost hear our kids falling to the floor with laughter at the words "a few.") But this is a blog and it's better to keep your posts short, so I'll just leave it at that. For now anyway.

We frequented home-improvement stores back then. Unless we were buying light fixtures or something else that I might possibly have some opinion on, my part usually involved going to the store with a list of incomprehensible (to me) items. What is all that stuff over there anyway?)  Not my favorite kind of shopping. 

So, when we sold the second house, I thought we'd never have to go to the big block Home Depot or Lowe's ever again. But I was wrong. It shouldn't have surprised me how often an RV needs repairs or fixes. After all, we pull it down the road, subjecting it to bumpy, winding roads, and city start and stop traffic, and then, when we pull in and hook up, we expect everything to work just as if we had a regular condo, instead of one on wheels.  So repairs and fixes are often needed.  I'm glad Bill can do most of those.  We save money and frustration.  (It's very hard to find repairmen when we're on the road.)

But I've pretty much had enough of those stores. And since we're never buying anything that I have any remote knowledge of,  I don't even go into those stores anymore.  

Unless it's this one.  Jerry's is a local Eugene store that's been here for years and this room is in the middle of it.

There are all kinds of  good magazines there too, not just home repair ones.

This is what I call a good shopping experience.

 

AUTUMN AT THE MALL

    

It made me laugh to see the mannequins who seem to be staring out the store window at this pretty Autumn diorama.  They look bored with the whole thing.  What a couple of dummies!

I took this picture at Oakway Mall in Eugene, where I was having lunch with an old friend from back when we lived in this rea. 

PUMPKIN WEEK

We went pretend pumpkin shopping at our local produce stand, Bush's Fern View Farms.  Just pretend because, although we certainly don't need a big Jack-O-Lantern in our small traveling home, it is still a lot of fun to look at a pumpkin field.   Remember trying to pick out the perfect one?

We followed the pumpkin trail from the stand out to the back field.  Here's one that would have made a good carver:

 

 

 

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The field itself was kind of weedy, but they sure had a lot of pumpkins.  I wonder what happens to all of them -- I don't think they are ever going to sell all of them. Mulch for next year's crop maybe?

It was fun and nostalgic walking around the field though.  We've been on our Fall roadtrip during this season for the last few years and only ever see pumpkin fields as we drive past.  So it was fun this year to admire them up close. I asked if they charged for looking and the owner just laughed. 

Here's some of what we did buy though (not all of them -- just a few from each of the boxes).  Yum.

 

    

We love to eat local.  And you've especially got to admire this family for taking time each year to plant and maintain  a whole bunch of beautiful hanging baskets around their stand.   

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  Bush's Farm is almost exactly between the side of the Lake where we stay and the other side where our daughter and son-in-law live.  So we get to enjoy the baskets even on the (few) times when we don't stop. 

Their season is almost over now though -- and we'll be leaving before too long anyway. 

Change happens (every season, every year). 

WORK AND PLAY AT WINCHESTER BAY

Fishing isn't much good on the Oregon Central Coast anymore for reasons that I don't fully understand.  But crabbing seems to be going okay, at least for amateurs.  When we were there last week, there were quite a few crabbers out on the Bay.  These guys getting ready to pull their pots are not very far out, right in front of the RV Park. 

This old crab pier is within walking distance.  You can see the ropes dangling down to the pots below. It's pretty gnarly off the end.

 

When we used to spend summers at WB, we did a lot of crabbing and we were pretty good at catching these "sea spiders." 

They aren't very pretty and preparing them isn't exactly a lovely process.  But fresh-caught Dungeness Crab are some of the best eating inthe world.  And it's good to catch and cook your own dinner -- and good for us to be reminded of where our food actually comes from.  (This picture is from 2005, the last year we crabbed.  The rest of the pictures are from our visit this month.)

Oysters are another delicious Winchester Bay seafood product.  These are cultivated commercially and are not available for amateurs to catch.  This is the Triangle, where the cultivation takes place.  It's about a mile from the RV Park. 

This trailer is full of oysters that have just been harvested.  Several times a day, it carries a load down the road to the processing plant, where you can buy them fresh (although it is mostly a wholesale place).  Crows are keeping watch on this huge pile of shells out in back of the Oyster plant. 

We love oysters and have eaten them all over the country, but these ones are especially good. 

Winchester Bay is a great place to spend time -- lots to do, see and eat.

FALL DAY AT FERN RIDGE

This is what Fern Ridge Shores RV Park looked like one morning last week. It had rained all night and was still gray and cloudy in the morning.  The Lake (Reservoir, really) is receding several feet per day.  Boating is over for the season.

  

Small summer pleasures, like sitting, swinging, and enjoying the view are over until next year too.  Now it's way too damp, cool and gray.

Fall brings its own kind of beauty, but it's hard to let go of summer.  So, it made me happy to see this in a neighbor's yard just before the end of the walk.  The last rosebud of summer?

A little bit of color means a lot on this kind of a day.  

  

WINCHESTER BAY

Salmon Harbor RV at Winchester Bay is where we stayed when we went to the Coast last week.  Over all the years we've visited the Oregon Coast, this is the place where we've probably spent the most time.  It's between Reedsport and Coos Bay (and about 30 minutes from Bandon where we drove for the day while we stayed here this time.)

Although smaller, Winchester Bay seems like a busier town than Bandon.  It is a fishing village (or used to be anyway -- commercial fishing isn't very good these days).  There are several good restaurants.  They aren't fancy, just good seafood, friendly people, the kind of places we like.   Most of them will close for the winter soon as the rainy season sets in -- we were just on time.   

We love the RV Park, because it has gorgeous views from anywhere you are parked.  Above is the boat basin and that's the view we had this time.  You can see some of the harbor shops as well.  The other reason we really like to stay here is that we can easily walk to the harbor shops and restaurants and into town for groceries.  Bill is resting stopping to watch the fisherman below the bridge on our way to grab a bite to eat.

We spent two summers at this RV Park while we were kind of making up our minds about whether or when to sell the house and become Full-Time RVers.  Well, Bill had his made up already; it took me a little longer.  And this beautiful spot helped me realize all of the advantages to living in a way that gives us more time to enjoy life.  

The picture on the right is half-moon bay looking toward the bay side of the RV Park (you can see some RVs parked there if you enlarge the picture).  

The sunset pictures were taken from that part of the RV Park, looking out at the bay and the ocean beyond.  There's really nothing not to love about Winchester Bay!

 
 SCENIC SUNDAY